Premium10 worst Hindi films and web series of 2023 - Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, The Trial, Citadel, Adipurush and more
Despite having prominent stars in the lead roles of movies and series, they were not successful because their production and plots did not appeal to audiences.
Last Updated: 05.28 PM, Dec 22, 2023
While the year 2023 treated us to some quality entertainment content, there were some misses that simply did not work. Despite having prominent stars in the lead roles of movies (Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan) and series (The Trial), they were not successful because their production and plots did not appeal to audiences.
As the year winds to a close and we get set to welcome a new one, we’ve been celebrating the best. So, to balance it off, it’s only fitting that we also look back at the films and series that missed the mark. Here’s a list of the 10 worst films and web series that were released in 2023:
2023 FILMS THAT FAILED TO IMPRESS
Kisi Ka Bhai Ki Jaan: The one word to describe Kisi Ka Bhai Ki Jaan, a family film starring Salman Khan and featuring a sizable ensemble cast, is "cringefest." With no story, little logic, and an overdose of emotions and drama, there was little going for this film.
Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan review: Audience ki jaan hi loge, Salman Bhai!
Animal: Although this film has set cash registers ringing like no other in recent times, many feel that Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal is not worthy of being celebrated. There are many loopholes in the storyline and a lot of the lead character’s (played by Ranbir Kapoor) actions make no sense. This is apart from the misogyny and hypermasculinity, of course.
Animal review: Ranbir Kapoor is the 'mane' event, overpowering the screenplay that has bitten off more than it can chew
Adipurush: There was a lot of hype around the Prabhas and Kriti Sanon starrer, but the film turned out to be a massive disappointment. Even the rumoured relationship and apparent impending wedding between Prabhas and Kriti couldn’t save this film.
Adipurush review: Prabhas, Kriti Sanon can’t salvage this tacky, soulless retelling of Ramayana
The Archies: Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s film that launched new star kids—Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor and Suhana Khan—was among the most eagerly anticipated of the year. So, it came as a huge disappointment that none of the star kids could act and that although the film was made well, the story wasn’t engaging enough to keep you hooked (or awake).
The Archies review: Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor's film is a love letter to the '60s but a breakup note to expectations
The Lady Killer: Despite good performances by the film’s leading pair, Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar, The Lady Killer bombed. Poor direction and gaps in the narrative were the downfalls of this film, which had seemed promising.
Tiku Weds Sheru: This is one film that even an actor of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s calibre was not able to save. Also starring Avneet Kaur, this tale of two wannabe actors was slammed as cliched, outdated and sluggish.
Tiku Weds Sheru review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur caught in the web of so-called romance makes for a jarring watch
Shehzada: While the original film, Allu Arjun’s Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, was a runaway hit, the Hindi remake, starring Kartik Aryan, was a dud. Shehzada was slammed for its outdated story and humour that failed to evoke laughs.
Shehzada Review: Even the ‘famous Kartik Aaryan monologue’ can't save this dull non-comedy remake
The Kerala Story: The Kerala Story did well at the box office, and lead actor Adah Sharma was praised for her performance. But the film was slammed for being emotionally exploitative and showing half truths, which rubbed many the wrong way.
The Kerala Story review: How to bury the truth under propaganda
The Vaccine War: Vivek Agnihotri claimed that his film, starring Nana Patekar and Pallavi Joshi in prominent roles, celebrates India's unsung COVID-19 vaccine heroes—the scientists. But the film felt more like propaganda and wasn’t really about the scientists.
The Vaccine War review: Nana Patekar and Pallavi Joshi set the right narrative in a story that has them fighting a false narrative amongst other things
Ganpath: After Adipurush and Shehzada, Ganpath was Kriti Sanon's third flop of the year. With poor execution and an uncompelling storyline, Tiger Shroff’s killer dance moves and action could do nothing to salvage this film.
SERIES THAT WE WOULD RATHER SKIP
The Trial: There were several expectations from Kajol’s OTT debut, considering that she was playing such a powerful role. But the Hindi remake of The Good Wife failed to raise the bar with a narrative that lacks depth.
The Trial review: Kajol's overwhelming performance drowns out nuance and makes for a noisy defense
Citadel: Expectations about seeing Priyanka Chopra Jonas kick some serious a*s after Quantico were high. But Citadel’s plot is generic and uninspired, doing little to excite. Although Priyanka gave her best to the series, it wasn’t enough.
Citadel review: Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden's espionage thriller is an expensive mistake of epic proportions
Aakhri Sach: This true-life horror crime-drama starring Tammannaah Bhatia as an undercover cop has a nice plot, but it lacks the intensity that is required of a series in this genre. The writing is lacklustre and cliche, which makes the six-episode series seem much longer than it really is.
Commando: The popular opinion about Commando, the web series, is that it is a pointless addition to the Commando film franchise. With Prem Parrijaa and Adah Sharma in lead roles, many feel that the series has nothing new to offer and therefore pales in comparison to the films starring Vidyut Jammwal.
Adhura: Usually, a series starring Rasika Dugal would be on your must-watch list. But there is an exception to all rules, and that is the case with Adhura. The supernatural thriller was slammed for being spooky at best, but definitely not scary. The character journeys are not built well (which is vital for the genre) and barring Rasika, the performances are not up to par.
Tooth Pari: When Love Bites: Vampires haven’t been explored much in India, so it was interesting when a human-vampire fantasy romance premiered on OTT. But it turned out that, apart from an interesting premise, there was not much else on offer. Lead actor Tanya Maniktala is unimpressive. The plot is haphazard and one loses interest soon.
Tooth Pari review: Shantanu Maheshwari and Tanya Maniktala's 'impossible' love story loses its fang in execution and kills the genre
UP65: Web series about college students prepping for competitive exams are generally a hit in India. While UP65 tried to be among them, it faltered and failed. The engineering student drama set in Varanasi is slow-paced, with weak writing and a superficial plot.
Jee Karda: This is another web series that Tammannaah Bhatia could not salvage. The friendship drama is dated and overly dramatic, which no one has the patience to watch now.
Sultan of Delhi: This is another series that fell prey to formula. The gangster drama is high on cliches with a story that lacks substance. The stereotypical characters are also a pain point.
P.I. Meena: It wasn’t Tanya Manaktala’s year, since P.I. Meena, a web series that she headlined, did little to excite audiences. The plot is the most important part of any investigative drama, and unfortunately, that is where this series falters.